Chapter 9 – The Bargain

Damon sat in the stands, watching as Elena Gilbert and her best friends Bonnie Bennett and Caroline Forbes practice cheerleading. He wasn't meant to be on school grounds but what did he care? He spotted Elena starring at him, he smiled, she looked rather vexed by his sudden appearance. She began making her way towards him, flanked by Bonnie and Caroline.

"What are you doing here Damon?" Elena demanded wiping sweat from her forehead.

"Hi Damon." Caroline said giving Damon a flirty smile, twisting her long blonde hair between her fingers.

"Just admiring the view." Damon replied raising his eyebrows at the three girls, Caroline and Bonnie giggled.

"You're disgusting!" Elena spat turning away from him. He smiled to himself, stubborn and sassy just like Katherine.

"So, did you end up finding Stefan?" Damon asked Elena catching up with her. She turned to him, narrowing her eyes.

"No, he won't answer his cell, he wasn't at the Grill or the graveyard." Elena said folding her arms across her chest. "Do you happen to know where he is?" She continued tilting her head slightly to the side. The artery pulsing in her neck was all Damon could stare at. "Damon!" Elena snapped, he was knocked from his fixation, he smiled at her fleetingly before smoothing back his hair.

"Um, yes Stefan." He said too shocked at his desire for blood, he could usually control his urges. "I haven't seen him either, have a good day Elena." Damon stalked off, shaking off the urge to kill anyone on this field. His fangs pushed through and the veins in his eyes bulged. He managed to get to his car and drive into town, he hadn't fed for several days, Elena had smelt so good, just thinking about what her blood would taste like caused his throat to throb.

Alex spotted Damon's car in the drive. She opened the front door and walked to his car. He was led face down against the stirring wheel.

"Damon, are you okay?" Alex said, making a move to open the door. He shot up suddenly his teeth bared. Alex stumbled back in shock, her eyes wide with terror.

"Go inside!" Damon roared at her his animalistic eyes fixed on her neck. "Before I kill you!" He said in a strained voice. Alex darted inside, slamming the door behind her, what was wrong with him? Why was he all of a sudden craving blood?

Damon shot out of the car a through the front door in seconds, he could smell Alex, hear her racing heart. She was making her way down to the cellar. Alex ran as fast a she could, through a door and another, gasping for breath, she really needed to do more exercise. "Alex, don't go down there!" she heard Damon call. "There is no way out." He continued but his voice didn't sound like his own anymore. Alex fumbled with the latch pulling the door open and slamming it closed behind her. She slid down the door burying her face trying to withhold from crying.

"Are you alright?" A disembodied voice asked, Alex peered up over her knees and into the dank darkness of the cell. She could make out a faint outline of a person led out of the floor of the other side of the cell.

"Who are you?" Alex asked trying to keep the shaking of her voice to the minimum. "Why are you locked in here?" She continued becoming more brave. The voice let out a laugh but he didn't sound amused.

"My brother as probably has been feeding you a lot of lies." The voice said, he sounded weak, she heard him shuffle towards her ever so slightly, his body slumped against the cell walls.

"You're Stefan" Alex stated in confusion frowning. Alex heard a clattering sound as Damon made his way to the cellar.

"Yes, so he has told you about me." Stefan stumbles into view, his face is pale and he's covered in grime. "You need to get out of here." Stefan continues his green eyes fixing on me as the veins below his eyes begin to pulse. Stefan lunged clumsily towards Alex who rolled out of the way and scrambling to open the cell door and bolting it shut.

"Alex, there you are." Damon says, his eyes gleaming with hunger. "I guess you found my little secret, looks like I'll just have to kill you." He states matter-of-factly a grin appearing on his face showing Alex his fangs. Alex on instinct pulled out her wand and pointed it and Damon's chest. Damon let out a menacing laugh making a move to snatch the wand but all of a sudden Damon was blown backwards smashing hard into the wall. Alex didn't hesitate, quickly removing Damon's daylight ring. She run up the stairs her heart racing, where was she going to go? What was she going to do now?

As Alex reached the hall Damon re-appeared veins pulsing. "That hurt." He growled his eyes fixing on her wand. Alex raised the wand again but Damon snatched it quickly from her, her mind was racing she could flash from here but where to? She landed hard, clambering slowly to her feet and wiping as much dirt from her knees as possible. She was by the entrance of the tomb, she let out a frustrated sigh slumping down to the ground.

"You look like you could use a little help there." A voice stated, Alex's head shot up and she squinted into the sun a silhouette of person above her.

"I think I'm good thanks." Alex replied scrambling to her feet suddenly, she felt so venerable without her wand for protection.

"Forgive me, we barley know each other, I'm Elijah Mikaelson." He silhouette said, his voice was polite and British which was comforting because it reminded her of Mason.

"So how do you suppose you're going to help me?" Alex asks raising her eyebrow at him. He leaps down into the tomb with elegance, landing steadily. He is tall, with dark brown hair and eyes. But what makes him look so out of place is the suit he is wearing. He holds out his hand waiting patiently for Alex to take it, Alex stares at Elijah frowning before taking hold of it. Elijah jumps, pulling Alex with him back to the surface.

"Well, that was unexpected." Alex says adjusting her hair. "Thanks for that by the way. But I could have made it out of there myself." She says.

"I'm sure you could have. But I need your help Alex Russo." Elijah says abruptly.

"Woah, woah, woah." Alex says holding up her hands and stepping back for Elijah quickly. Elijah looked genuinely confused at Alex's reaction. "Look, I have no idea who you are and you show up out of nowhere, save me then ask for my help and on top of that you know my name!" Alex responded without taking a breath. "So first off, how about telling me how you know who I am?" Alex continued her eyes fixed on Elijah, but he didn't look at all dangerous.

"I've been following Damon Salvatore for the last few years." Elijah replied quietly.

"What are you so kind of stalker?" Alex asked becoming more confident in herself. Elijah appeared confused by the remark shaking his head.

"Damon Salvatore is searching for a way into that tomb below us, just as I am. He said coolly.

"So what exactly is in this tomb? I know now it's not his brother." Alex said suddenly irritated.

"Someone of the up-most importance to my brother Klaus…" Elijah said vaguely. "If you help me Alex, I in turn can help you." He continues, it seems this has been the thing he has been waiting to say.

"How can you help me?" Alex asked, almost afraid to ask.

"Damon has shot with a poison, which makes him crave human blood. I don't know who has done it but we can find a way to cure him." Elijah insisted and Alex nods agreeing to do whatever it takes to save him.

Damon watched as Alex disappeared in front of his eyes, and he lets out a cry of anger, but part of him is relieved she has managed to escape. This sudden urge to kill overwhelmed him. He shot towards the front door flinging it up, suddenly is skins begins to burn and he stumbles back away from the sunlight a searing pain burning over his body as he clutches his rapidly healing face. His daylight ring was gone.

"ALEX!" He yells frustrated.

Damon makes his way slowly back down towards the cellar, grabbing to packets of blood from the fridge. He pulls open the door to Stefan's cell closing it behind him and pushing a bag of blood over to Stefan's weak figure. "Here you go, brother." Damon says defeated. He takes a long sip of blood before settling himself on the floor beside the door.